Device for spotting internal combustion engines



Jan. 13, 1942.

DEVICEv FOR SPOTTING INTERNAL GOMBUSTION vENGrI'lUEJS Filed July 28, 1939 2 Shee'bs-Sheetl l INVENTOR GLENN M. WALLACE ROY MAGERKURTH G. M. WALLACHv ETAL 2,269,835

Jan. 13, 1942. G. M. WALLACE ErAL 2,269,835 DEVICE FOR SPOTTING' INTERNAL, COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 28, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6

' lNv'ENTol-a GLENN M. WALLACE ROY MAGERKURTH Patented Jan. 13, 19h42 DEVICE FOR SPOTTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES l Glenn M. Wallace, Bryant, and ltoy Magerlrurth, Oklahoma City, Gkla., assignors to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Application July v.238, 1939, Serial No. 287,148

(Cl. 25d-93) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for spotting an internal combustionengine on ring position preparatory to starting-the engine; it is also adapted to slowly rotate the drive shaft of such engines during the fitting of bearings and may be used in case of an emergency to impart sufficient momentum to the flywheel for the purpose of starting the engine.

It has been the practice heretofore in lthe spotting of stationary internal combustion engines to employ the, s ofcalled crowbar type spotter. This device consists of an iron bar pivotally supported on a fulerum intermediate its ends. One end of the bar is adapted to engage suitable notches in the face of the 1ly, wheel and the other `end ismanually operated erence to the following description and annexed drawings which respectively describe and illustrate a preferred embodiment of this invention, and wherein- I Ataken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

to placev the first mentioned end in engagement with the flywheel and `thereby slowly rotate the flywheel to the desired position. This device is 'not satisfactory from an operating point of view gine that meninV the vicinity would', at times,

trip over the bar, thereby injuring themselves.

The present invention eliminates all of vthe objections recited above, andprovides spotting means whereby the foperator can both spot and start the engine from its power end. Our device is compact in design and there is no danger tothe operator in the event that the engine should backj-iire. Our device includes a jack operable by a suitable fluid under pressure, preferably compressed air; means connected to the jack for cooperating with the flywheel of the engine to rotate the same;` and control means for placing the jackin service.`

The primary object of this invention is to prol vide' safe, positive,"and .dependable means for spotting, starting or slowly rotating the drive shaft of stationary internal combustion engines.

'I'his invention has for another object the prolvision of a device of the character indicated' Figure 3 represents our invention mounted in a position for cooperating with the ywheel of an internal combustion engine; l

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the face of the iiywheel illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 'is a side elevation view of another type of jack head in engagement with the sides of a flywheel;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the jack head illustrated in Figure 5;

Figure '7 is aside elevation View of a third embodiment of the jack head in engagement with the sides of a flywheel; and

Figure 8 is a plan view of the jack head illustrated in Figure '1.l

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, thereof, we have denoted therein a support I0 on which is posi-v tioned aplate II having a bracket I2 near one ,end for pivotally supporting a jack housing,

' which is generally indicated by reference nu-I meral I3, through the cooperation of a pair ofl parallel arms I4 and a pin I5. The jack housing consists of a cylinder I6, a base I1, and a top I8. A piston I9 reciprocates within cylinder the action of 'a compression spring 23 which isV concentrically mounted with respect to piston rod ZII and is disposed between top I3 and the upper face of piston I9, The extreme upper end 24 'of the piston rodis machined substantially-square which is simple, compact, and rugged in design,

and linexpensive to manufacture, operate, and

maintain..

'I'hese and other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art on refin shape `to receive a jack head 25. Areadily removable pin 26 maintainsrthe jack head 25'in position on the piston rod and a set screw 2`Iin the top of thepiston rodl prevents this pin from becoming dislodged"du'ring the practice of .our invention. It will be vobserved from an inspection of Figure 3 that the jack head is adapted to engage with a series of equally spaced notches or teeth 28 that extend around the entire peripheral face of a stationary internal combustion engine flywheel 29.

-Referring next to the details of construction of picted therein a valve passageway which communicates with the interior of the jack housing through a duct 3|. An inlet port 32 and an exhaust port 33 establish communication between passageway 30 and the exterior of the base. A conduit 34 is used to connect inlet port 32 with a suitable source of high pressure iluid (not shown) for operating our device. While various uidsunder pressure may be used for the purpose of actuating the piston, we find that compressed air is entirely satisfactory vfrom the viewpoint of economics and the fact that it is noninilammable in character. An externally threaded plug 35 having a recess 36 closes olf one end of valve passageway 30. A slide valve 31 is provided with a pair of annular grooves 38 and 33 and is flanged at one end 40 so that a coil spring 4| will normally urge the valve against shoulder 42, establishing communication between duct 3|, annular groove 39 and exhaust port 33. It will be noted that under these circumstances, none of the compressed air passes from inlet 32 through duct 3| and thence into the interior ofthe jack housing. Our type of construction contemplates having one end 43 of the valve project a short distance beyond the base when the valve is in exhaust position, as illustrated in Figure 1.

We have showntwo systems of levers for controlling our device in Figure 3. One system is employed to tilt the jack housing intol operable position, while the other system of levers is ernployed to actuate the slide valve. The tilting mechanism includes a post 44 rigidly mounted to the housing; a manually operated lever 45 pivotally -supported to plate at 46; and a link 41 pivotally connected to post 44 and lever 45 at 48 and 49 respectively. The valve actuating mechanismy or system of levers consists of a bracket 53; a manually'operated lever 5| pivotally connected to plate at 52; and a pair of links 53 and 54, all of which are assembled into a unitary organization by pivot connections 5,5. 55, and 51.

Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 illustrate two additional forms of jack head construction, either of which may be substituted for jack head 25 illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, and each is adapted to cooperate in a positive and dependable manner with the `usual flywheel of internal combustion engines. The jack head 53 is provided with a pair of jaws 53 which have their opposite, inside faces 3l serrated for gripping the sides 6| of the ilywheel. Jack head 82 is similar to jack head 5I, but instead ci. having serrated Jaws, this type ofconstruction utilizes a pair of ratchet rollers 43 which are rotatably lsupported on 'pins 84. It will be evident from an inspection of Figure 'I that the ratchet rollers of the flywheel.

In describing the operation of our instant invention, 'let us rst assume that plate Ii, to-

gether with the apparatus mounted thereupon. has been placed on support- Il adjacent flywheel 2l, as shown in Figure 3. 'I'he operator takes a position near support l0 facing the jack housing and the perlpheralface of the ywheel, gripping the upper portion o! levers 45' and 5l in his righthand and left hand, respectively. He now exerts a forward thrust on lever 45, thereby tiltwill rmly grip the 'slides 45 and he then operates lever 5| to actuate slide valve 31 to admit compressed air to the cylinder, thereby urging the piston I3, piston rod 2li and Jack head 25 upwardly. This is attained by imparting a backward thrust or pull to lever 5|, which thrustwill be transmitted through links 54 and 53, causing the lower or free end of link 53 to contact the projecting end 43 of slide valve 31 and move the slide valve toward the right against the action of compression spring 4|. Suflicient movement of slide valve 31 toward the right will allow compressed air to flow through conduit 34, fluid inlet 32, past annular groove 33 and thencethrough duct 3| into the cylinder, urging the piston I9 upwardly againsithe action of compression spring 23. The effect of the pressure of the compressed air upon the piston and therefore on the jack head may be varied by controlling the relative position of the slide valve at times when the compressed air is admitted to the jack housing. It will be readily apparent that when the valve control mechanism is operated so that the valve is moved to its furthermost position to the right, a maximum supply of compressed air will be admitted into the housing. By the same token, if the valve is moved to the right sothat only a part of duct 3| is in communication with groove 33, then less compressed air will be admitted to the interior of the jack housing. It will be merely a matter of skill in operation to control the amount land eiect of the compressed air upon the piston. With a valve of our type.

` communication betweenV the interior of the housing and exhaust port 33 will be cut off immediately preceding the establishment of communi- "cation between the interior of the jack housing When the pull on lever 5l is and inlet port 32. released, slide valve 31 will be moved toward the left by compression spring 4 I, thereby placing the interior of the jack housing in communication with exhaust port 33, and cutting olf the supply of compressed air to theinterlor of the housing. Compression spring 23 will then urge the piston downwardly and the air admitted into the housing during the preceding step will be discharged through port 33.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of our present invention will be readily comprehended by persons skilled in the art. It is to be clearly understood, however, that the form of our invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of paris may be resorted to' without departing from -the spirit of our invention.. as defined by the apfor engaging the flywheel to rotate thesame, a

ing the jack ,housing about pin il so that jack j fluid inlet port and a iiuid exhaust port for the housing, and a valve for controlling the admission and exhaust of iiuid into and from the housing; means exterior the housing for operating the valve to' control the admission of iiuid into the housing; and remotely controlled means for tilting the Jack with respect to the support to place the Jack in engagement withithe ywheel.

2. In apparatus for rotating the flywheel of an internal combustion engine, the combination comprising a support; a fluid actuated jack pivotally connected to the support, said jack including a housing, a piston reciprocating within the housing, a piston rod connected to the piston and having one end projecting beyond the housing for engaging the flywheel to rotate the same, a fluid inlet port and gl.K iluid exhaust port for the housing, a valve for controlling the admission and exhaust of uidfinto and from the housing,

" and means for normally maintaining the valve in exhaust position; vmeans exterior. the housing for operating the valve to" control the admission of uid into the housing; and remotely controlled means for tilting the jack with respect to the support to place the jack in engagement with the ilywheel. l

3. In apparatus forrotating the flywheel of an internal combustion engine, the combination comprising a support; a fluid actuated jack pivotally connectedto the support, said jack including a housing, a piston reciprocating within the housing, a. piston rod connected to the piston and having' one end projecting beyond the housing for engaging the flywheel to rotate'the same. a iluid inlet port and a uid exhaust port for the housing, and .a valve for controlling the admis- Cil sion and exhaust of fluid into and from the housing; means exterior the housing for operating the valve to control the admission of iluid into the housing; and remotely controlled link means for tilting the jack with respect to the support to place the jack in engagement with the flywheel.

4. In apparatus for rotating the flywheel of an internal combustion engine,A the combination comprising a support; a iluid actuated jack pivotally connected to the support, said jack including 'a housing, a piston reciprocating within the housing, a piston rod connected to the piston and having one end projecting beyond the housing for engaging the flywheel to rotate thesame, afluid inlet port and a uid exhaust port for the housing, a valve for controlling the admission and exhaust of uid into and from the housing, and

,means for normally maintaining the valvein exhaust position; means exterior the housing for operating the valve to control the admission of uid into the housing; and remotely controlled link means for tilting the jack with respect to the support to place the jack in engagement with the flywheel.

GLENN M. WALLACE.

ROY MAGERKURTH. 

